Coronavirus; A blessing in disguise?

Over four months of an outbreak of the coronavirus and already over a million people have been affected through spread. It is really alarming considering what is happening down here in Ghana. Ghana recorded its first case in the early days of March and as at today, over 200 people have been confirmed to have tested positive for the virus with 5 deaths and a few over 30 recoveries. The country is currently on a partial lockdown, which means movement is allowed only for essential services such as food, courier services or visiting a health facility.

I am quite particular about this because just before this partial lockdown, there was a very huge resurfacing of illegal miners in the country. A ban which the government placed on all mining activities in 2017 was lifted in 2018 and the illegal miners took advantage of it once again. Their activities lead to destruction of waterbodies and other parts of the environment which serve major rural and urban areas and one disheartening fact is that, security officials who have been deployed to stop the operations of these illegal miners have given in to monies that they are bribed with. A recent leaked audio shows that some government officials are behind the work of these illegal miners. But the government is always quick to come and clear its officials of any wrong doing and the country is running into the ditches on perhaps the blind side of the government.

The partial lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus has seen a very big improvement in the environment;

ü No miners (illegal) are to be seen working and this is being achieved with the help of the military who have been deployed to ensure that all rules of the lockdown are enforced.

ü Restricted movement means, no cars or few cars are allowed to move about and this has greatly reduced the content of carbon dioxide and other pollutants in the environment.

ü Industries that do not produce essential services have been added to the lockdown and hence no production and emission of dangerous gases till the lockdown is lifted which is good from the environmental aspect of it.

ü Coronavirus has generally brought a high standard of living with hygiene being its first core. More people are careful with what they even touch and consume. Hand washing has become part of our daily dealings now and the use of sanitizers has really sprung up.

ü We eat well prepared foods especially meat and this ensures that no sickness would rise due to the consumption of unwell cooked food.

ü Families are now closer to themselves than ever, some kids who got to see their parents once or twice in a week or a month can now have their parents or even loved ones to themselves due to the lockdown coronavirus has brought.

With this few points I believe anyone could be convinced that coronavirus is indeed a blessing in disguise looking at things on the brighter side and not forgetting the serious damages it has also brought.

Green Cheers from Ghana!